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Vikram Sharma
Tribune News Service
Jammu, October 18
On the eve of Diwali, Jammu city, which is usually a major consumer of flowers on the festival, is failing to cater to the demand.
Since the eight villages of Jammu tehsil failed to produce the bulk to meet the supply, flower sellers in the past few days have been reaching out to nearby districts to ferry loads of flowers to bring to the city of temples.
Even the wholesale sellers of the town are perturbed over getting little supply of flowers alleging that their season got ruined due to shortfall. Vikrant Sharma, Floriculture Officer, Jammu, said since the flower supply to Jammu city from adjoining villages was a regular process throughout the year, on festive occasions, these had to be imported from neigbouring districts like Udhampur, Chenani, Kathua, Reasi and Samba. “Besides, since Diwali this year has come a little early, the crops in the adjoining areas have not matured enough for harvesting and sellers and distributors have to run to different districts for the purchase,” Vikrant said. Meanwhile, sellers of marigold, the most saleable flower on the festive occasion, said instead of purchasing flowers from local distributors, they preferred buying them from neighboring districts which had an abundant yield and sold at much lower prices.
Presently, marigold is being sold in the market at Rs 150 per kg on Diwali while the sellers claim that they fetch good returns by purchasing these from outside.
“An average of 5-10 marigold garlands and half kg of loose flowers are used for offering prayers during Diwali which costs around Rs 350,” said Ritika Raina Malla, 29, a housewife at Roopnagar.
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